Kenny's First Date

Kenny blankly stared back at Tessa for a long minute, and eventually the girl broke into a small giggle, "So should I take that as a no?"

Kenny blinked a few quick times and cleared his throat, "N-No, sorry, Tess, I uh....heh, I just got...lost in a train of thought. I'd love to go to dinner with you," A beaming smile grew across Tessa's face. Date...she said date, like an actual date with me. I'm on a date now? I don't know how to be on a date. What do I do? How does this go? Well calm down, she asked me, so I should just follow her lead, right?

"Ah, I'm so excited!" Tessa exclaimed and gave Kenny's arm another squeezing hug, "Where do you want to take me?!"

Shit. Kenny swallowed and looked up the street, "Uhhh, well, there's the...Sweet Spot just up the road,"

"That's for ice cream, I thought we'd go somewhere to sit down, eat real food, and talk. Unless that sounds like too much, I know this is last minute." Tessa explained, though the nervous hopeful tone of her voice only made Kenny want to kick himself for suggesting the ice cream shop.

"Oh, I misunderstood! A restaurant sounds great! A real meal, absolutely." Kenny let out a hum and looked up and down the streets again, "The Snowdrop is pretty far...but uh, let's go up here, I know a nice place,"

"Really?" Tessa's eyes lit up, "Sounds great, I'll follow your lead,"

Fifteen minutes later Kenny and Tessa were sitting inside Fire and Ice, a high-end restaurant that Kenny only knew about since Anna's mother happened to be the head chef. From everything he heard from others in school, it was a hell of a step up from diners and fast food and sounded like the kind of place you'd want to take a girl on a date. However, now that Kenny was experiencing the atmosphere of the restaurant he was starting to wonder if he maybe took Tessa to a place that was a little too romantic. "Hey, you alright?" Tessa's voice pulled Kenny's attention back to her.

"Yeah, sorry, I was just looking around, I've never sat down to actually eat here before," Kenny lifted his glass of water and took a sip,

"Oh really?" Tessa leaned forward, resting her arms on the table and interlocking her fingers, "I figured when you said you knew a place that meant you were taking me somewhere you take all your girlfriends." The brunette lightly teased as her chin lowered until her head was now resting against her hands.

Water caught in Kenny's throat and he let out a few quick coughs, earning another giggle, "Uh, girlfriends, plural? No, Tess, I haven't taken a girl out before." He blankly explained before freezing solid, the words flying out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying.

Tessa's hands slapped down on the table, "No way! This is your first date?!" Kenny all but sank away in his chair, his head slowly starting to lower, "How?! You're only a year younger than me, how is this your first date?! You never even went out for ice cream with a girl?! A walk?! Anything?!" Kenny's cheeks couldn't have been more blazing red. "What the hell..." Tessa sighed before giving her head a shake, "Good lord the girls in this town are fucking idiots."

"W-What?" Kenny's eyes flicked up,

"The girls in this town! I mean, I thought you lived somewhere else when I was back in school, but from everything Juliet used to tell me and everything I've seen so far, you should have been fighting the girls off with a stick," Tessa grinned, "A sweet, warm guy like you is a commodity, anyone can see it," Kenny flickered a smile back, his shame slowly drifting away, "So no date also means no girlfriend then, huh?" Kenny shut his eyes once more, "That's alright, there's nothing to be ashamed about there. I only dated one guy in high school for a few months. Believe me, it wasn't anything to write home about."

Kenny felt genuine surprise overcome him and immediately looked up, "Really? A cheerleader like you, and you only ever had one boyfriend?"

"I have high standards," Tessa coyly replied as she traced her straw around the rim of her water glass, "But...what would you think...about me being your girlfriend?" Tessa gave her head a small tilt and her blue eyes stared at Kenny unwaveringly.

"My...girlfriend?" Kenny whispered back and in an instant, his mind soared off on a flurry of fantasies. The idea of coming home to Tessa every day, having sex with her, going on dates every weekend. Eventually having her meet his folks, and maybe one-day things could go further until they'd get married? He almost smirked at the thought of Ellie, she'd be so mad and jealous. Maybe enough to try and fuck him back to her side, and Tessa would do the same to keep him. His gaze turned dreamy for just a moment, thinking of Tessa and Ellie both sharing him. Both Westchester sisters for himself, what more could he even ask for than that?

"Kidding of course!" Tessa finally said with a hearty laugh and Kenny all but went limp in his seat, "Oh come on, Ken, you can't have thought I was serious. This is only our first date, I hardly know you! What kind of relationship would we have if we started dating now, hmm? Can't be too hasty, you'll scare a girl off,"

Kenny sighed and nodded back, reluctantly accepting the truth of Tessa's statement, "True, we did only meet the other day, right? Sorry, I -- " Kenny cut off his apology and merely chuckled, "I guess you know I like you now at least, huh?"

"Nothing wrong with that, I like you too," Tessa warmly replied. The pair went silent for a moment as Tessa clearly mulled over something in her head, "Tell you what," The brunette grabbed her phone and swiped through her calendar, "I think I can already say I'd love to go on another date with you, but I won't have another free night until..." Tessa chewed on her lip as she continued to look her phone over, "The start of next month. Why don't we catch a movie, hmm?"

"Next month?" Tessa nodded back, "Oh, uhhhhh, yeah, sure, Tess, that sounds great. But that's not going to be for almost three weeks,"

"I know, I wish I could make it sooner, but I never had anyone to plan my schedule around before," Tessa apologetically explained before giving a shrug, "But, the good news here is, I'll know if you're really interested in me as a person if you're willing to wait that long,"

Kenny let out a short chortle, "Hey, just tell me when. I'll be ready," He firmly stated with a smile.

"Oh my lord," The pair suddenly heard call out, "Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Kenny?!" The teen looked over and saw JJ in a nice button-up lightly jogging over to the table, "That is you! And oh my God, please tell me that really is Tessa Westchester I see,"

"James!" Tessa exclaimed while jumping up and giving him a short, friendly hug, "It's been so long,"

"I think it was a championship match in Dartwin, my junior year, right?" JJ asked back as Tessa sat back down,

"Yep, just before I graduated! I still remember, you guys played great that night," Tessa looked back to Kenny, "You two are friends?"

"Best friends!" JJ affirmed for Kenny while giving the teen a slapping pat on the shoulder, "What are you two doing here?"

"Uhhhhh," Kenny droned, suddenly unsure what to tell JJ. Tessa called it a date, sure, but would she really want him telling other people he was on a date with her?

"We're on a date," Tessa suddenly answered for him, "I met Ken for the first time the other day, and...I don't know, he's really fun. So, we decided to come out for dinner,"

"That's awesome," JJ squeezed Kenny's shoulder, "You've been hitting me with radio silence all summer. You at least gotta keep me updated when it comes to going on a date with someone like Tessa, man,"

"It was a...spur of the moment thing," Kenny looked over to Tessa, feeling a swelling of thankful, and fulfilling pride that she so easily told JJ of their date, "But. yeah, you're right, I need to seriously find some time to hang out,"

"Well, from what I hear, you're at Club 36 a lot these days. If you come by in the morning, we can do a little sparing. I've never had a buddy who I could box with, and looking at the way you're already bulking up, you'd be a hell of a match up," JJ grinned before checking his watch, "I think...my friend should be showing up any minute now, so I'm gonna bounce. Tessa, lovely seeing you again. So sorry to interrupt your time, and I'll see you guys later," JJ backed away giving Kenny a proud nod and Tessa a wave before slipping back to the other side of the restaurant.

"Heh, James was always a nice guy. Makes sense you'd be friends with him," Tessa hummed as she looked down at the menu. Kenny gave a nod, and for just a moment felt a touch of worry in his stomach. Tessa really seemed excited to see JJ. "Oh, Ken, let's try the chicken wings! Do you like spice?" She immediately shifted topics, returning her full focus back to the date.

Kenny wet his lips and felt his insecurities fly away, "Oh, uh, yeah, I love spice. I usually end up trying them out whenever I go to a new place,"

"Me too! Oh, that's awesome! Maybe after our movie next month, we can go somewhere else new to try some more!" Tessa quickly suggested, looking up at Kenny with an eager twinkle in her eye. All Kenny could do was smile back, So...this is what a real date feels like.